The Champions Cup - Fixtures announced (Updated)

[biffer]

If you really want to find some blind fingers in the ears loyalty over on the ulster forum, try looking at the thread about paddy Jackson and the other boys blacking up for a fancy dress party.

Story here

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 24197.html

Given that their own country / province is riven by bigotry and division with a history of centuries, you'd have though it might be possible to understand why it might have caused offence. But not according to the fans forum.

[drc_007]

Unfortunately for RRW, the WRU has a similarly cosy relationship with the Welsh media based in Cardiff.

http://tier2rugby.blogspot.co.uk/2014/0 ... d.html?m=1

I take it that there is still no Welsh Participation Agreement?

Statement just released by RRW.....There is not going to be one.
What comes next, I just don't know.

http://ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/35193

So where does this leave Sam Warburton? Not playing rugby this season?

[jgriffin]

The WRU seems to have taken a hidden decision to kill the current regions.

[Bill W (2)]

The WRU seems to have taken a hidden decision to kill the current regions.

It certainly looks that way JG.

But who knows sanity may yet prevail

[jgriffin]

One of my nephews lives in Swansea and is an Ospreys fan. He and his pals believe the WRU are going to get rid of the regions and replace them with their own inventions. He says this view is spreading rapidly amongst the local clubs.

[trendylfj]

This seems to descending into an absolute farce. We have approx 8 weeks to the start of the season and still no-one seems willing to give way. No AI's for Wales with regional players; No club for Warburton; No regions in the Rabo (guiness or whatever). Absolute madness!!

What will it means for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/28205291

[drc_007]

What will it means for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

4 Irish sides
2 Scottish
2 Italian
8 English
8 French

Or go for a 20 team competition, 4 pools of 5 with the top two going through to the knock out stage.

[biffer]

What will it means for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

4 Irish sides
2 Scottish
2 Italian
8 English
8 French

Or go for a 20 team competition, 4 pools of 5 with the top two going through to the knock out stage.

It's already a twenty team competition, try to keep up.

Two welsh teams in champions cup, so I'd reckon something pragmatic - playoff loser plus another pro12 team? Stade Francais and Edinburgh? Then move the challenge cup to 16 teams.

[InGuinnessVeritas]

What will it mean for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

An even nicer choice for away trips.

[trendylfj]

What will it means for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

4 Irish sides
2 Scottish
2 Italian
8 English
8 French

Or go for a 20 team competition, 4 pools of 5 with the top two going through to the knock out stage.

It's already a twenty team competition, try to keep up.

Two welsh teams in champions cup, so I'd reckon something pragmatic - playoff loser plus another pro12 team? Stade Francais and Edinburgh? Then move the challenge cup to 16 teams.

And then a full redraw or just for the lower ranked teams or just substitute the teams for the teams they are replacing????????

As I said earlier, it is becoming more daft every day. They simply have to agree to a compromise or I can see the Welsh taking years to recover. More players will leave or be offloaded when the regions can't afford them and it will be years before they return.

[jgriffin]

Perhaps now everyone can see the WRU for the destructive force they have always been

[misty]

Perhaps now everyone can see the WRU for the destructive force they have always been

This guy is the root of the problem...Roger Lewis, the CEO of the WRU. The WRU board are terrified of him even though he's just an employee of theirs.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... =-AQFUDQaW

[misty]

"Instead of being totally guaranteed for each of the six years, close scrutiny of the union’s amendments to a document made it clear the money could conceivably be clawed back through other means and only be paid if the union felt they could afford it".

http://waleseye.com/post/91993578336/the-endgame

Despite their bluster, it appears that the WRU is skint.

[piebaps]

What will it mean for the Champions cup if there are no Welsh regions?

An even nicer choice for away trips.

Amen to that

[BruceMKirk]

I'm guessing the fixtures have not yet been announced for the coming season but do we know which weekends the matches will be played? When will the fixtures be announced?